Let’s Cruise: Exploring Ha Long Bay on a Traditional Junk Boat

If you’re looking to be awed by nature’s wonders, one day aboard a junk boat cruising through Ha Long Bay and enjoy one of the best cruising experiences of your life.

Fantastic view as we get closer to the Thien Cung Cave

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It’s a beautiful day in Ha Long, Vietnam. The sky is not that clear and its quite windy but the cold weather made the trip more enjoyable. We board one of the junk boats, which were an experience in themselves. It’s like climbing aboard a different time where these boats were used for voyages and expeditions that discovered new lands in the orient.

Our Poster Perfect Gopro Selfie while Cruising Halong Bay Vietnam

Cruising Ha Long Bay

From Halong Plaza Hotel where we stayed overnight, it took us less than half an hour to reach the boat station. From the dock, the view of Ha Long Bay was already mesmerizing. Tall, gigantic limestone karsts emerge from the green waters.

Fruit Peddler approached our Junk boat while cruising Ha Long Bay

Our guide tells us we’ll be cruising through some of these isles and he tells us about the long history of Ha Long, this stunning bay, and legends the locals have passed on through generations. Our tour guides name is Duc (pronounced as Duke) – an efficient guide with an amazing British accent which he learned over the years from British guests he assisted.

Group GoPro Selfie Shot in front of the Junk Boat

Ha Long Bay, or “Bay of the Descending Dragon” was named so years ago when the locals feared foreign invaders. According to legend, a great dragon wanted to protect Vietnam and placed these towering isles to create a great wall. Once the dragon was satisfied that the people are safe, they decided to stay and live on the bay, preserving its beauty.

Filipino Travel Bloggers inside our Chartered Boat

Group Shot before exploring the cave

Exploring Thien Cung Cave

There was more to do than stay on the boats, and more to see than the grand scenic view. Our first stop was at Thien Cung Cave to see some of the Stalactite and stalagmite formations and explore grottos and various floors. Thien Cung, in particular, was brightly lit with colorful lights that enhanced its beauty.

Short hike to the cave entrance

Also known as the Heavenly Palace Cave, it is one of the most beautiful caves along Ha Long Bay. The stalactites and stalagmites formed were truly Mother Nature’s best sculptures.

Beautiful Formations inside the Cave

The only challenging part was the cave entrance but after entering the narrow door, exploring the cave is quite easy since it has paved pathways and protective fences to avoid accidents.

Huge Column near the exit of the cave

The end of the path will lead you to the exit with several souvenir shops and a nice view deck that provides a rewarding view of the bay before you head back to the assigned junk boat. Overall, It was certainly worth the time despite the slippery cave floor!

Souvenir Shops at the Exit of Thien Cung Cave

Cruising one of the most beautiful bays in the world

Visiting the Lagoons

Female Boat Paddler waiting for passengers

Entrance of the Lagoon

There are other activities and sights to see along Ha Long Bay. There are floating houses and small boats that come to you to sell fish or fresh fruit. You can even go kayaking in certain areas and explore caves and lagoons by yourself.

Our Group GoPro Shot before entering the lagoon

One of the activities we did include a boat tour to some of the lagoons in Ha Long Bay. Upon reaching the small dock station, we were required to wear life vests and asked to group by 4 before loading to our assigned boat.

Pinoy Travel Bloggers in one the Ha Long Bay Lagoons

It took us about 40 minutes to complete the entire tour, the water was calm and we completely enjoyed the boat ride. However, I cant help but compare it to the lagoons found in El Nido and Coron both in Palawan where you can dock in some secret islets and swim in the clear blue waters.

Vietnamese Lady paddling near the dock station

Lunch at the Junk Boat

While cruising, we were also told of the many things that live in the waters and animals and plants that grow around the isles. The bay has thriving ecosystems, with an abundance of cuttlefish, oysters, and prawns—some of which were told we’ll be having for lunch!

Steamed Prawns

Imagine eating Vietnam’s best meals against the backdrop of Vietnam’s most beautiful tourist attraction? It’s pure heaven! It is certainly a special moment if you’re sharing this meal with a partner, and a unique moment of downtime when traveling with friends.

Vietnamese Fish dish similar to our very own Fish Sarciado

It’s definitely an amazing way to spend a day in Vietnam. We enjoyed the breath-taking site and even learned about the rich history and thriving nature around those parts.

Survivors – Ha Long Bay Edition

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. It shows the beauty of Mother Earth and its worth to be preserved for generations to enjoy its beauty. It’s a fun experience, but surprisingly humbling as well. It is certainly one of the greatest Wonders of the World as it’s one of the many examples that the planet that we live in is a beautiful one.

My Ha Long Bay Cruise Experience will not be complete without a Selfie Shot LOL

If you have noticed, some of the GoPro shots I posted here were already posted on my Instagram account as we explore the tourist spot. Thanks to Smart Postpaid All-Day Surf Abroad promo, for only P450 per day, I was able to update my social media accounts and check my email as we visit some of the beautiful destinations in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.

Our Ha Long Bay Cruise was sponsored by Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific flies from Manila to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam twice weekly every Tuesday and Saturday, leaving Manila at 10:30PM and arriving in Hanoi at 12:30am. Return flights will leave Hanoi at 1am every Wednesday and Sunday, and arrive in Manila at 5am.

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

6 COMMENTS

[…] in Hanoi, you can’t leave without experiencing Vietnam’s most beautiful natural wonder. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and that means it’s the best the world has to offer! Have lunch […]

[…] Food, Beer, Secret Night Life, Motorbikes – if this sounds like a fun cocktail to you then Hanoi is the place to be! The crazy chaos of the daily life in this Asian city makes it one of the best backpacking destinations in the world. Hanoi is also a great base for loads of amazing places to visit in the north including the incredible Ha Long Bay. […]

[…] Halong Bay was a easily one of the best places I have seen in my entire life so far. I can still remember it like it was yesterday, when I was driving my motorbike along the coastline and all of the sudden I could slowly see some silhouettes of wonderfully shaped rocks in the distance… […]

[…] Halong Bay is one of, if not the most popular attraction in Vietnam. Photographers and Instagrammers will find Halong Bay a gem, with the rock formations and incredible hues during sunrise and sunset. It’s been a World Heritage Site since 1994! But not only is Halong Bay a feast for the eyes, but it’s also a place where you can do so much! […]

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